Patents by Inventor William P. Roberts

William P. Roberts has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5425896
    Abstract: A method of initiating oxygen scavenging by compositions which comprise oxidizable organic compounds and transition metal catalysts is disclosed. The method comprises initiating scavenging by exposing the composition, etc., to radiation. The radiation exposure is preferably electron beam or ultraviolet light and is preferably used on oxygen scavenging compositions which comprise a substituted or unsubstituted ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst. Inclusion of a photoinitiator or antioxidant in the scavenging composition is also preferred to facilitate and/or control the composition's scavenging properties. The method can be used for initiating scavenging in packaging layers or articles for oxygen sensitive products such as food and beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Drew V. Speer, William P. Roberts, Charles R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 5418279
    Abstract: Stereoregular polystyrenes can be combined with a plasticizer to make a non-PVC plastisol with physical properties comparable to PVC-based plastisols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Jie Ren, William P. Roberts, Arthur D. Ketley
  • Patent number: 5399289
    Abstract: A composition for scavenging oxygen is disclosed. The composition comprises an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer which has 0.01-1.0 equivalents of carbon-carbon double bonds per 100 g of polymer and a transition metal catalyst and can be incorporated into various types of layers. The composition has an elongation-at-break of at least 20% and retains at least 50% of its original tensile strength after oxygen scavenging has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Drew V. Speer, Charles R. Morgan, William P. Roberts, Ram K. Ramesh
  • Patent number: 5350622
    Abstract: Products and film structures using the oxygen scavengers, are disclosed. Such products demonstrate enhanced shelf stability of foodstuffs and reduced sensitivity to humidity and temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Drew V. Speer, Charles R. Morgan, William P. Roberts, Andrew W. VanPutte
  • Patent number: 5346644
    Abstract: A composition for scavenging oxygen is disclosed. The composition comprises an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst and can be incorporated into various types of layers. It is preferable that the composition be incorporated into layers of multilayered articles used for packaging oxygen-sensitive products such as food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Drew V. Speer, William P. Roberts, Charles R. Morgan, Cynthia L. Ebner
  • Patent number: 5310497
    Abstract: Improved compositions for scavenging oxygen are disclosed. These materials, characterized by low degree crystallinity and a glass transition temperature of <-10.degree. C., have high oxygen scavenging rates at low temperatures. The composition comprises an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst and can be incorporated into various types of layers. It is preferable that the composition be incorporated into layers of multilayered articles used for packaging oxygen-sensitive products such as food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Drew Ve Speer, William P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5211875
    Abstract: A method of initiating oxygen scavenging by compositions which comprise oxidizable organic compounds and transition metal catalysts is disclosed. The method comprises initiating scavenging by exposing the composition, etc., to radiation. The radiation exposure is preferably electron beam or ultraviolet light and is preferably used on oxygen scavenging compositions which comprise a substituted or unsubstituted ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon and a transition metal catalyst. Inclusion of a photoinitiator or antioxidant in the scavenging composition is also preferred to facilitate and/or control the composition's scavenging properties. The method can be used for initiating scavenging in packaging layers or articles for oxygen sensitive products such as food and beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Drew V. Speer, William P. Roberts, Charles R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 5171641
    Abstract: An acid copolymer/quaternary amine mixture is disclosed which is permanently antistatic. The acid copolymer is a copolymer of (i) a major amount by mol % of an alpha-olefin of the formula RCH.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R is H or C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl, and (ii) a minor amount by mol % of an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The quaternary amine is of the formula [(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)N].sup.+ [X].sup.- wherein R.sup.1 is selected from H, aryl, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.50 alkyl optionally having one or more non-contiguous C.dbd.O or NHC.dbd.O or --S-- or --O-- in the carbon chain, or the same as R.sup.2 ; each of R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is the same or different and selected from H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more OH or from --(R.sup.5 --O).sub.a --H where a is an integer from 1 to 10 and R.sup.5 is ethylene or propylene; and X is an anion selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, fluoborate, phosphate, C.sub.1 to C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William P. Roberts, Marvin R. Havens
  • Patent number: 5153075
    Abstract: An acid copolymer/quaternary amine mixture is disclosed which is permanently antistatic. The acid copolymer is a copolymer of (i) a major amount by mol % of an alpha-olefin of the formula RCH.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R is H or C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl, and (ii) a minor amount by mol % of an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The quaternary amine is of the formula [(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)N]+ [X]- wherein R.sup.1 is selected from H, aryl, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.50 alkyl optionally having one or more non-contiguous C.dbd.O or NHC.dbd.O or --S-- or --O-- in the carbon chain, or the same as R.sup.2 ; each of R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is the same or different and selected from H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more OH or from --(R.sup.5 --O).sub.a --H where a is an integer from 1 to 10 and R.sup.5 is ethylene or propylene; and X is an anion selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, nitrate, fluoborate, phosphate, C.sub.1 to C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Marvin R. Havens, William P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5096761
    Abstract: A masking film suitable for masking during electrostatic spray painting is disclosed. In one embodiment the masking film is made from an acid copolymer/quaternary amine mixture which is permanently antistatic. The acid copolymer is a copolymer of (i) a major amount by mol % of an alpha-olefin of the formula RCH.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R is H or C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl, and (ii) a minor amount by mol % of an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The quaternary amine is of the formula [(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)N].sup.+ [X].sup.- wherein R.sup.1 is selected from H, aryl, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.50 alkyl optionally having one or more non-contiguous C.dbd.O or NHC.dbd.O or --S-- or --O-- in the carbon chain, or the same as R.sup.2 ; each of R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is the same or different and selected from H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more OH or from --(R.sup.5 --O).sub.a --H where a is an integer from 1 to 10 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William P. Roberts, Charles R. Morgan, Marvin R. Havens
  • Patent number: 5096934
    Abstract: Packaging materials containing inherently antistatic foams and a method of using the foams are disclosed. The foam used is a polyether polyurethane foam prepared from an isocyanate containing prepolymer which is the reaction product of a oxyethylene containing polyol and a polyisocyanate. The foams show surface resistivity of less than 1.times.10.sup.12 ohms/square and static decay times of about two seconds or less. A preferred foam shows static decay times of 0.1 seconds or less. The packaging includes articles used around static sensitive devices or used to store or transport static sensitive devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William P. Roberts, Cynthia L. Ebner, Timothy G. Grasel
  • Patent number: 5064699
    Abstract: A semi-rigid, heat-sealable laminate with permanent antistatic characteristics comprising a semi-rigid packaging material having a coating of heat-sealable antistatic plastic. The antistatic plastic is a film of a modified acid copolymer. The modified acid copolymer is selected from (I) a mixture of (A) a polymer containing carboxylic acid moieties and (B) an antistatically effective amount of a quaternary amine, or (II) the acid/base reaction product of (A) a polymer containing carboxylic acid moieties and (C) an antistatically effective amount of an organic or inorganic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Marvin R. Havens, Stephen L. Fowler, William P. Roberts, Cynthia L. Ebner
  • Patent number: 4999252
    Abstract: An acid copolymer/quaternary amine mixture is disclosed which is permanently antistatic. The acid copolymer is a copolymer of (i) a major amount by mol % of an alpha-olefin of the formula RCH.dbd.CH.sub.2 wherein R is H or C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl, and (ii) a minor amount by mol % of an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The quaternary amine is of the formula [(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4)N].sup.+ [X].sup.- wherein R.sup.1 is selected from H, aryl, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.50 alkyl optionally having one or more non-contiguous C.dbd.O or NHC.dbd.O or --S-- or --O-- in the carbon chain, or the same as R.sup.2 ; each of R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is the same or different and selected from H, C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more OH or from --(R.sup.5 --O).sub.a --H where a is an integer from 1 to 10 and R.sup.5 is ethylene or propylene; and X is an anion selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, nitrate, fluoborate, phosphate, C.sub.1 to C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Marvin R. Havens, William P. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4604427
    Abstract: This invention relates to a chemical method of forming an electrically conductive polymer blend which comprises impregnating a non-porous, swellable or soluble host polymer with:(a) one or more cyclic compounds selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, aniline and substituted analogues of said group members, and(b) at least one chemical oxidant selected from the group consisting of trivalent compounds, tetravalent cerium compounds, hexavalent molybdenum, tungsten or chromium compounds, divalent copper compounds, monovalent silver compounds, nitrites, quinones, peroxides and peracids, said oxidant being dissolved in a solvent capable of swelling or solubilizing said host polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.
    Inventors: William P. Roberts, Leslie A. Schulz